The quickest way to add a subscript in Word

To add a subscript in Microsoft Word, select the text you want to make smaller and lower, then press Ctrl + = (on Windows) or Cmd + = (on Mac). The text shrinks and drops below the baseline when ready. To undo it, select the text again and press the same keys.

A superscript — text that sits above the line — uses Ctrl + Shift + = on Windows or Cmd + Shift + = on Mac. Both shortcuts toggle on and off, so you can explore them, type new text, and explore them again to return to normal formatting.

This method works in Word 2016 and later on both Windows and Mac, and in Microsoft 365 (the subscription version). If the keyboard shortcut does not work, your version may be older or your keyboard may have a different layout — the menu method below will work on any version.

Key Takeaways

  • The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + = (Windows) or Cmd + = (Mac) creates a subscript; Ctrl + Shift + = creates a superscript.
  • You can select existing text and explore subscript or superscript formatting, or turn on the formatting and type new text that will automatically be subscripted.
  • The Home tab menu offers subscript and superscript buttons if keyboard shortcuts do not work on your device.
  • Subscripts and superscripts do not change the actual text — they are only formatting, so search and spell-check treat the text normally.

Using the menu if the keyboard shortcut does not work

Open your document in Word and locate the Home tab at the top of the screen. In the ribbon below it, find the Font group — this is where bold, italic, and underline buttons live. Look for a small dropdown arrow next to or below the font formatting buttons.

Click that dropdown arrow to open the Font dialog box. In the dialog, find the Effects tab. You will see checkboxes for Subscript and Superscript. Check the box for whichever you need, then click OK. Any text you had selected will now be formatted; if you had no text selected, the next text you type will be subscripted or superscripted until you turn the formatting off.

To turn off subscript or superscript formatting using the menu, open the Font dialog again, uncheck the box, and click OK. This method is slower than the keyboard shortcut but works the same way and never fails.

Typing subscripts and superscripts from the start

You do not have to select text first. If you know you need a subscript before you type it, explore the formatting, type the text, then turn the formatting off. For example, to type H₂O: type "H", press Ctrl + = to turn on subscript, type "2", press Ctrl + = again to turn it off, then type "O".

This approach is faster than selecting and formatting after the fact, especially if you are typing a chemical formula or mathematical expression with many subscripts. The formatting applies only to text you type while it is active, so you do not have to worry about accidentally formatting the wrong letters.

What subscripts and superscripts do and do not change

Subscript and superscript are formatting only — they change how the text looks on screen and in print, but not what the text actually is. If you type "H2O" and make the "2" a subscript, Word still sees it as the letter H, the number 2, and the letter O. The Find and Replace tool will still find "H2O" even if the 2 is subscripted. Spell-check will still flag it if it is misspelled.

This matters because it means subscripts and superscripts work in any part of Word — in headers, footers, tables, text boxes, and comments. They also copy and paste correctly into other programs, though some programs (like email or web forms) may not preserve the formatting when you paste.

Subscripts in footnotes and citations

If you are using Word's built-in footnote or endnote feature, the numbers are already superscripted automatically — you do not need to format them yourself. The same is true for citation numbers if you are using Word's citation tools or a plugin like Zotero or Mendeley.

If you are manually typing a superscript number for a citation or footnote instead of using Word's tools, format it as a superscript so it sits above the line like a real citation marker. This is a matter of appearance only — Word's automatic citation tools are more reliable if your document needs to be edited later.

Fixing subscripts and superscripts that look wrong

Sometimes subscripts or superscripts appear too small or too far down (or up). This usually happens because Word is using a font that does not have built-in subscript and superscript characters, so it is shrinking and shifting the regular characters instead. The fix is to change the font to one that handles subscripts better, like Calibri, Times New Roman, or Arial.

If changing the font does not help, open the Font dialog again, go to the Advanced tab, and look for Position. You can manually adjust how far down or up the subscript or superscript sits, measured in points. Most of the time you will not need to touch this — the default settings work — but it is there if you need fine control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make subscripts and superscripts in Word Online?

Yes. In Word Online, go to the Home tab, find the Font group, and click the dropdown arrow next to the font name. Select Subscript or Superscript from the menu. The keyboard shortcuts do not work in the web version, so the menu is your only option.

Will subscripts and superscripts print correctly?

Yes, they print exactly as they appear on screen. Before printing, use Print Preview to confirm the formatting looks right. If it does not, check that your printer driver is up to date, as some older drivers have trouble with advanced formatting.

What if I need to type many subscripts in a row?

Turn on subscript formatting once, type all the subscripted text, then turn it off. For example, to type "x₁₂₃", press Ctrl + =, type "123", then press Ctrl + = again. This is faster than toggling the formatting on and off for each character.

Do subscripts and superscripts work in headers and footers?

Yes. Click inside the header or footer, select or position your text, and explore subscript or superscript formatting the same way you would in the main document. The formatting will appear in the header or footer on every page.

Can I search for subscripted text?

Word's Find tool treats subscripted text as regular text — it will find "H2O" whether the 2 is subscripted or not. If you need to find only subscripted instances, use Find and Replace with the Format button to search for text with subscript formatting applied.